Nepali citizens visiting India for various purposes will now have access to Indian SIM cards. Previously, mobile connections were only accessible to Nepalis after providing a passport with visa stamps.

Nepal citizens visiting India now eligible for Indian SIM cards

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the ceremonial launch of the construction of 1300 houses in the country. The houses are being built as part of phase four of the Indian housing project. The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka joined Ranil Wickremesinghe at the event. The houses will be constructed in 45 Plantation Estates across 10 Sri Lankan districts. Under this phase of the project the government of India has committed to construct 10,000 houses for Plantation workers who are Indian origin Tamils.Watch to know more!

Bharat-Lanka Housing project: India to construct 1300 houses in Sri Lanka under

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), operating under the central government, has issued an emergency directive to major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Snap.

The directive mandates the blocking of 177 accounts and links associated with the farmers' protest, citing the need to maintain public order.

According to a Hindustan Times report, MeitY issued these orders following the Ministry of Home Affairs' instructions.

These directives, finalised on February 14 and supplemented on February 19, are temporary and will remain in effect for the duration of the protest. Social media companies are allowed to restore the blocked accounts and channels once the protest concludes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/farmers-protest-in-india-samyukta-kisan-morcha-rejects-centres-five-year-msp-contract-offer-691742">Also read |&nbsp;Farmers' body in India rejects government's five-year MSP contract offer calling it diversion</a>

<h2>Details of the order</h2>

The blocking orders encompass various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, and Reddit. MeitY's order&nbsp;focuses specifically on 35 Facebook links, 35 Facebook accounts, 14 Instagram accounts, 42 X accounts, 49 X links, 1 Snapchat account, and 1 Reddit account. Notably, this marks the first time the government has issued a blocking order against Snap.

Representatives from Meta (formerly Facebook) and X engaged in a Section 69A blocking committee meeting, advocating against the wholesale blocking of channels.

They proposed instead the blocking of specific URLs containing objectionable content. However, the committee expressed concerns that allowing these accounts to remain active could incite public unrest.

Also watch |&nbsp;India Farmers Protest: Proposals not in interest of farmers, they have rejected offer: Union Leaders

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-farmers-protest-proposals-not-in-interest-of-farmers-they-have-rejected-offer-union-leaders-691811/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The enforcement of the emergency order resulted in the suspension of several prominent accounts, including Manoj Singh Duhan's X account from the Unionist Sikh Mission and Facebook pages supporting Lakha Singh Sidhana, a gangster-turned-politician.

While the total number of accounts and URLs blocked by the February 14 order remains undisclosed, it included profiles such as @kisanektamorcha and @FarmersFront on X, associated with the Kisan Ekta Morcha and Progressive Farmers Front, respectively.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), operating under the central government, has issued an emergency directive to major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Snap.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), operating under the central government, has issued an emergency directive to major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Snap. The directive mandates the blocking of 177 accounts and links associated with the farmers' protest, citing the need to maintain public order. According to a Hindustan Times report, MeitY issued these orders following the Ministry of Home Affairs' instructions. These directives, finalised on February 14 and supplemented on February 19, are temporary and will remain in effect for the duration of the protest. Social media companies are allowed to restore the blocked accounts and channels once the protest concludes. Also read | Farmers' body in India rejects government's five-year MSP contract offer calling it diversion Details of the order The blocking orders encompass various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, and Reddit. MeitY's order focuses specifically on 35 Facebook links, 35 Facebook accounts, 14 Instagram accounts, 42 X accounts, 49 X links, 1 Snapchat account, and 1 Reddit account. Notably, this marks the first time the government has issued a blocking order against Snap. Representatives from Meta (formerly Facebook) and X engaged in a Section 69A blocking committee meeting, advocating against the wholesale blocking of channels. They proposed instead the blocking of specific URLs containing objectionable content. However, the committee expressed concerns that allowing these accounts to remain active could incite public unrest. Also watch | India Farmers Protest: Proposals not in interest of farmers, they have rejected offer: Union Leaders The enforcement of the emergency order resulted in the suspension of several prominent accounts, including Manoj Singh Duhan's X account from the Unionist Sikh Mission and Facebook pages supporting Lakha Singh Sidhana, a gangster-turned-politician. While the total number of accounts and URLs blocked by the February 14 order remains undisclosed, it included profiles such as @kisanektamorcha and @FarmersFront on X, associated with the Kisan Ekta Morcha and Progressive Farmers Front, respectively. (With inputs from agencies)

Farmers' protest: Indian govt blocks 177 social media accounts to uphold 'public order'

The protesting farmers in India have decided to pause their 'Delhi Chalo' March. This, after days of negotiations with the government, finally resulted in some headway. During the fourth round of talks with the farm leaders, the government proposed a five-year MSP plan. The farmers say they are seeking advice on the latest measures announced by the government.

Farmers Protest: Farmers reject govt's proposal over MSP, to go ahead with 'Delhi Chalo' march

Amid regulatory challenges and uncertainties, Paytm's CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, reaffirmed the continuity of the company's QR code and Soundbox services beyond March 15, providing reassurance to users amidst ongoing concerns. <o:p></o:p>

In a tweet, Sharma said, "Paytm QR, Soundbox and EDC (card machine) will continue to work like always, even after March 15," referring to the latest clarification from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding the operational status of Paytm services.<o:p></o:p>

The company's proactive stance is evident in its widespread advertising campaign, strategically placed across prominent newspapers, aiming to allay fears and dispel rumours surrounding the operational status of Paytm's services. <o:p></o:p>

The advertisements prominently feature the message, "Beware of any rumour about your Paytm Soundbox and QR. They will keep working always," reaffirming the perpetual functionality of these services. <o:p></o:p>

In addition to the advertisements, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma echoed the sentiment of continuity in a social media post, stating, "Yep! Today, tomorrow, always."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yep ! Today, tomorrow, always.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PaytmKaro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PaytmKaro</a> <a href="https://t.co/4iM9Jxm94T">pic.twitter.com/4iM9Jxm94T</a>
— Vijay Shekhar Sharma (@vijayshekhar) <a href="https://twitter.com/vijayshekhar/status/1759441937017294923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

<o:p></o:p>

The company's proactive communication extends to directing users to consult RBI's FAQs, specifically numbers 21 and 22, which provide clarity on the operational status of Paytm QR codes, Soundbox, and card machines. <o:p></o:p>

The reassurance from Paytm comes in the wake of regulatory actions imposed by the RBI, including restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank, citing persistent non-compliances and supervisory concerns. <o:p></o:p>

Despite these challenges, Paytm shares surged by 5 per cent following its partnership with Axis Bank for merchant payment settlements.<o:p></o:p>

The RBI's decision to extend the deadline for Paytm Payments Bank operations until March 15 offers a temporary reprieve, allowing the company to navigate regulatory adjustments.<o:p></o:p>

However, the regulatory impact extends beyond banking operations, with Paytm Payments Bank excluded from the National Highway Authority of India's list of authorised banks for the FASTag service. <o:p></o:p>

Amid regulatory challenges and uncertainties, Paytm's CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, reaffirmed the continuity of the company's QR code and Soundbox services beyond March 15, providing reassurance to users amidst ongoing concerns.

Amid regulatory challenges and uncertainties, Paytm's CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, reaffirmed the continuity of the company's QR code and Soundbox services beyond March 15, providing reassurance to users amidst ongoing concerns. In a tweet, Sharma said, "Paytm QR, Soundbox and EDC (card machine) will continue to work like always, even after March 15," referring to the latest clarification from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding the operational status of Paytm services. The company's proactive stance is evident in its widespread advertising campaign, strategically placed across prominent newspapers, aiming to allay fears and dispel rumours surrounding the operational status of Paytm's services. The advertisements prominently feature the message, "Beware of any rumour about your Paytm Soundbox and QR. They will keep working always," reaffirming the perpetual functionality of these services. In addition to the advertisements, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma echoed the sentiment of continuity in a social media post, stating, "Yep! Today, tomorrow, always." Yep ! Today, tomorrow, always.#PaytmKaro pic.twitter.com/4iM9Jxm94T — Vijay Shekhar Sharma (@vijayshekhar) February 19, 2024 × The company's proactive communication extends to directing users to consult RBI's FAQs, specifically numbers 21 and 22, which provide clarity on the operational status of Paytm QR codes, Soundbox, and card machines. The reassurance from Paytm comes in the wake of regulatory actions imposed by the RBI, including restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank, citing persistent non-compliances and supervisory concerns. Despite these challenges, Paytm shares surged by 5 per cent following its partnership with Axis Bank for merchant payment settlements. The RBI's decision to extend the deadline for Paytm Payments Bank operations until March 15 offers a temporary reprieve, allowing the company to navigate regulatory adjustments. However, the regulatory impact extends beyond banking operations, with Paytm Payments Bank excluded from the National Highway Authority of India's list of authorised banks for the FASTag service.

Paytm assures users: QR Code, Soundbox to remain operational amid regulatory scrutiny

India has lend a diplomatic hand to Male, even though ties have been strained between the two nations. New Delhi has spent around $93 billion on developmental projects in Maldives. Watch to know more!

India-Maldives tensions: Despite row, India's projects in Maldives gain pace

Farmers Protest: Farmers reject Centre's new proposal on MSP, to resume march to Delhi on Feb 21

Thousands of farmers from India's northern states will resume their protest march to Delhi on Wednesday. Now the announcement came after agitating Farmers rejected a central government proposal. Now the farmers are demanding a legal guarantee of minimum support price on 23 crops. Farmer leaders say they held detailed discussions over the government proposal and reached at a conclusion that it was not in favor of the farmers. The Proposal was offered during a meeting between the protesting farmer leaders and three Union ministers on Sunday night. Watch to know more!

India Farmers' Protest: Thousands of farmers to resume march to Delhi on Feb 21

The INDUS X Conference aims to serve as a platform uniting officials and startups to foster collaboration within the U.S.-India defense corridor. Last year's inaugural conference, held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., marked a pivotal moment in bilateral relations, occurring just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States. The event showcased the participation of 26 startups, highlighting the growing interest and commitment from both nations in nurturing innovative defense solutions.

US-India relations: Atul Keshap talks about how India-US' bilateral relationship is at all-time high

India: No change in developmental cooperation with Maldives | India-Maldives tensions

Indian farmers have rejected the centre's proposal on minimum support price. With this, the protesting farmers will resume their journey to the capital, Delhi. The demonstrations come just months ahead of the general elections. We decode how will this back and forth impact BJP'S prospects.

Farmers Protest: Thousands of farmers to resume march to Delhi on February 21

A dynamic cohort of India’s affluent young professionals is reshaping the contours of the luxury car market. These individuals spearheaded a remarkable surge...Propelling the sector to a 37 per cent growth, culminating in 38,680 units sold in the preceding calendar year. Watch to know more!

India's young professional splurge on luxury cars

Indian farmers' unions have declined the government's proposition of guaranteed support prices for pulses, corn, and cotton. However, the question remains: does the demand for a guaranteed MSP hold sufficient viability to address all underlying issues? Or are there additional factors that necessitate consideration? Take a look at our next report.

India Farmer protest: Punjab's wheat dominance wanes

India's Water Transport Workers Federation, which represents some 3,500 workers at 11 major Indian ports, has decided they won't load or unload weapons to Israel on any ships. Amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine war, they expressed their solidarity with the Gazans and urged for an immediate ceasefire.

Gravitas: Indian port workers boycott Israeli military cargo in solidarity with Palestine

The after effects of covid-19 which still continue to impact a large section of patients who were infected by the virus and more so a study reveals Indians are the worst hit more than people who have faced the infection in China or Europe. Watch to know more!

Indians worst hit by Covid19 after-effects: Study

Reports say India's I.T. workers may see a drop in their pay packages by as much as 40%. This will affect not only the freshers, but also the CXOs. IT employees may also see a drop in their variable pay. What or who is to be blamed?

Gravitas: Why India's I.T. employees may see a drop in their salaries this year

Can MSP ensure farmer income while keeping food affordable?

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar repeated New Delhi's position on the Russia-Ukraine war and said that the country's ties with Moscow are based on historical experiences — western sanctions notwithstanding.

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar repeated New Delhi's position on the Russia-Ukraine war and said that the country's ties with Moscow are based on historical experiences — western sanctions notwithstanding. In an interview with the German daily Handelsblatt, Jaishankar also responded to question if India would act as a mediator to end the Russia-Ukraine war which is set to enter its third year later this month. Jaishankar said that India is publicly committed to bringing the conflict to an end. "Everyone is suffering from this conflict. I don't know exactly how it will end, we're not deep enough into the process to know," said the Indian foreign minister. "Isn't that why you could be a mediator?," the interviewer asked Jaishankar. "Theoretically, yes," Jaishankar said, adding that New Delhi has already helped with very specific issues. "Wherever we can help, we are happy to do so. We are open when we are approached. However, we do not believe that we should initiate anything in this direction on our own," added Jaishankar. Russia has never hurt India's interests: Jaishankar When asked if the Indo-Russian relationship is a "burden" on the India-Europe relationship due to oil trade between the two countries, Jaishankar said that Russia has never hurt Indian interests. "Everyone conducts a relationship based on their past experiences. If I look at the history of India post-independence, Russia has never hurt our interests," Jaishankar said. Also read | Putin’s actions in Ukraine do not make Indians anti-Russia. Here’s why "The relations of powers like Europe, the US, China or Japan with Russia, they have all seen ups and downs. We have had a stable and always very friendly relationship with Russia. And our relationship with Russia today is based on this experience," said the Indian foreign minister. Asked if India would have liked support from Europe in conflict with China in 2020, Jaishankar said that just like India does not expect Europe to have a view of China that is identical to India's, Europe should understand that India cannot have a view of Russia that is identical to the European one. "Let us accept that there are natural differences in relationships." Also watch | Indian PM Modi speaks to Ukraine President Zelensky × Jaishankar, when asked about Russia being an important arms supplier to India, slammed the West's longstanding preference to supply Pakistan with arms and not India. "In terms of inventory", Jaishankar added that Moscow remains the most important arms supplier for New Delhi. "Because many Western countries have long preferred to supply Pakistan and not India. But that has changed in the past ten or fifteen years with the USA, for example, and our new purchases have diversified with the USA, Russia, France and Israel as the main suppliers," he added.

Will India act as mediator to end Russia-Ukraine war? Jaishankar responds

The 2024 list of world's strongest passports shows France at the top and Afghanistan at the bottom. It is a reflection of the number of countries that allows visa-free entry to the holder. Watch to know more!

Strongest Passport Index 2024: France, South Korea among top 5 strongest passports

A study has found that COVID-19 affected the lungs of Indians more than the lungs of patients in Europe or China. What explains this discrimination? Also, how can you know if your lungs are safe?

Gravitas | Long Covid: Why Indians are more affected than the Chinese

Thousands of farmers to resume march to Delhi on February 21

India stands at 85th position on the Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 passports based on their strengths. New Delhi's ranking has dropped one place to 85th spot from the previous year's 84th position. India has visa-free access to 62 nations.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, France is at the number one spot, with its passport holders enjoying visa-free entry to 194 nations. Besides, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain have also occupied top positions, allowing visa-free entry to 194 global destinations.&nbsp;

Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden, also have powerful passports with visa-free access to 193 nations. The Maldives is ranked 58th.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/a-tale-of-two-us-presidents-bidens-great-great-grandfather-was-pardoned-by-abraham-lincoln-691801">A tale of two presidents: Joe Biden’s great-great-grandfather was pardoned by Abraham Lincoln</a>&nbsp;

In South Asia, Pakistan retains its 106th position from last year, meanwhile, Bangladesh has also slipped on point - from 101st to 102nd.&nbsp;

Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan are at the bottom of the index.&nbsp;

The Henley Passport Index is the original, authoritative ranking of all the world's passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.&nbsp;

The official site states that the index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the largest, most accurate travel information database that has been enhanced by Henley &amp; Partners' research team.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-global-intelligence-chiefs-to-meet-in-delhi-from-feb-20-canada-to-attend-691777">Exclusive: Global intelligence chiefs to meet in Delhi from Feb 20,&nbsp;Canada to attend</a>&nbsp;

In its report, Henley &amp; Partners stated that it conducted exclusive new research into the relationship between "visa-free access and economic progress by comparing key metrics across various regional and economic groups worldwide".&nbsp;

The groups include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the G7, the G20, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR).&nbsp;

It also includes&nbsp;the expanded BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) bloc, which officially welcomed new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in early January.&nbsp;

India stands at 85th position on the Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 passports based on their strengths. New Delhi's ranking has dropped one place to 85th spot from the previous year's 84th position.

India stands at 85th position on the Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 passports based on their strengths. New Delhi's ranking has dropped one place to 85th spot from the previous year's 84th position. India has visa-free access to 62 nations. Meanwhile, France is at the number one spot, with its passport holders enjoying visa-free entry to 194 nations. Besides, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain have also occupied top positions, allowing visa-free entry to 194 global destinations. Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden, also have powerful passports with visa-free access to 193 nations. The Maldives is ranked 58th. Also read: A tale of two presidents: Joe Biden’s great-great-grandfather was pardoned by Abraham Lincoln In South Asia, Pakistan retains its 106th position from last year, meanwhile, Bangladesh has also slipped on point - from 101st to 102nd. Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan are at the bottom of the index. The Henley Passport Index is the original, authoritative ranking of all the world's passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The official site states that the index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the largest, most accurate travel information database that has been enhanced by Henley & Partners' research team. Also read: Exclusive: Global intelligence chiefs to meet in Delhi from Feb 20, Canada to attend In its report, Henley & Partners stated that it conducted exclusive new research into the relationship between "visa-free access and economic progress by comparing key metrics across various regional and economic groups worldwide". The groups include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the G7, the G20, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). It also includes the expanded BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) bloc, which officially welcomed new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in early January.

Henley Passport Index 2024: India's rank slips, France has most powerful passport

The Maharashtra government has now proposed a 10% quarter for the Maratha community, According to the socially and educationally backward classes Bill 2024. The Maharashtra cabinet has approved the draft of the bill for 10% Maratha reservation in education and government jobs. The bill has received cabinet nod and it will be presented to the State Assembly and the council today in a special session. Watch to know more!

Maharashtra cabinet approves 'Maratha Quota Bill' with 10% quota

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - Microsoft commits $2.1 billion to boost AI and cloud infrastructure in Spain, India: Students to get two chances of appearing in 10th, 12th boards from 2025-26.

India: Students to get two chances of appearing in 10th, 12th boards from 2025-26

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